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Rose hips (or Rose Haws) are the fruit of the rose that forms following successful pollination after the petals drop. They are definitely edible although the seeds are held inside by tiny hairs that can be irritating if not removed. Fresh, they have been compared to cranberries–tart and very fruity-flavored. They can also be dried or preserved to use at a later time. One method for making rose hip tea is to grind a little powder from the dried hips and steep it in hot water, straining the dregs before drinking. Many countries make their own concoctions from rose hips: nyponsoppa in Sweden, palinka in Hungary, and cockta in Slovenia.

When I went to Germany, I enjoyed the roses which seemed to be present everywhere. I was astounded by the size of the rose hips on some of the plants–I never knew they could be so large! I suspect it is because the newer varieties of roses are chosen for specific weather or disease-resistance. I have long noticed that the older, more “wild” varieties of roses have the best aromas (and probably the most beneficial phytochemicals, as well!).

This charming baby quilt was made for our niece Kelly. I had fallen in love with the fabrics (fat quarter’s, I believe), but I wasn’t quite sure what to do with them. A dear friend who is a marvelous quilter helped me design and piece the quilt. I came up with the bees & peas quilting pattern and quilted it on my machine. It was my first attempt at adding a little free-motion quilting–I love the whimsy!

I found this beautiful, flowering vine in the middle of O’Leno State Park in Florida. With a little bit of detective work, I discovered that this is a Yellow Carolina Jessamine, the state flower of South Carolina. Although this plant is toxic to people, it benefits bees by killing a parasite in their feces…bonus!